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Tag: S

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Litmus Test: 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S with 37,700 Miles

Following up on Rob’s “presence” post about the 928, here we have the embodiment of presence and speed in the 944 Turbo S. But we have much more than that, too, in this particular example.

As I talked about at length in the last 1988 Turbo S post, there was a lot that made this car more special than the regular Turbo – and, arguably, more special than the 911, too. But the market on 944 Turbos has been all over the map, with nice examples struggling to break $10,000 at times and excellent examples three to four times that. So where does this Turbo S lie?

Well, we have a great combination of factors that make it quite desirable. First, it’s one of the S models. Second, it’s a claimed one owner car that appears to be close to 100% original. Third, it’s got very low mileage, with only 37,700 accrued. But the coup de grâce that beheads the typical unrealistic asks in the Porsche world is that this is a no reserve auction. Rarely do we get to see all of these things combine and get a real feel for the market.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S on eBay

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1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S Silver Rose

Porsche is famous for launching a special edition just about every six minutes, and in the late 1980s they launched quite a few for 1988. First off, they created a special edition of the 944 Turbo. The new option M758 “Turbo S” included a new turbocharger with redesigned vanes and a remapped DME which increased boost to a max of 1.82 bar. The resulting M44/52 had 30 more horsepower and 15 lb.ft torque to a max of 247 and 258, respectively. But the “S” package was far more than just more boost, as the cooling system was revised, the clutch and transmission were beefed up with hardened first and second gears.

Brakes were borrowed from the 928 S4 and now measured 12″ in front with four piston aluminum calipers. Wheels were Club Sport 16″ forged, polished and anodized units measuring 7 inches in front and 9 in the rear. Suspension was also beefed up with the M030 package; this included adjustable rebound Koni shocks and adjustable perch coilovers in front. Limited slip differentials (Code 220) were not standard, but a must-select option.

Within the already limited edition S (of which about 1,900 were shipped to the US), there was another special edition. The “Silver Rose” launch cars took all of the special aspects of the M758 S package and added a unique color (Silver Rose Metallic, LM3Z) and a very unique Burgundy Studio Check interior. Outside of the Turbo Cup cars, these very limited original models have become the most desirable of the 944 Turbos:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S on eBay

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2012 Porsche Panamera S

I paid a visit to the local Porsche dealer over the long weekend to check out the wares, specifically the Macan S. As great as the PDK transmission is, I would still prefer the Macan with a 6-speed manual gearbox. Given that is not on the option list, it has fallen down a few notches on the list of potentials for my second vehicle. One car that was available for a time with a manual gearbox of which few are aware is the Panamera. After it first debuted, certain rear-drive models, including this Panamera S for sale on the western border of Germany near Saarbrücken were available with a 6-speed manual. Few, if any, Panameras made it to the US with three pedals. I personally have yet to come across one. Even still, in Europe, these big sedans so equipped are rare.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2012 Porsche Panamera on Mobile.de

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Porsche Exclusive: 2016 Porsche Macan S

My disdain for the common SUV is well documented here on GCFSB, but a funny thing happened in 2014. Porsche released the Macan. At first glance, I wrote this car off as a smaller Cayenne. And yes, I’ll call this a car because anyone who has seen one in real life knows about its compact dimensions. My attraction to the Macan has grown over time to the point that I would be tempted to pull the trigger if a 6-speed manual were available. I’m not writing off the perfectly fine 7-speed PDK transmission, but three pedals is really how I’d prefer my car to be configured, especially if I’m going to drop down this much coin. Nevertheless, after a discussion with my father, the Macan is a serious contender to replace my mother’s trusty 17 year old C-class. So maybe a Porsche will finally wind up in the family somewhere after all. If you’re looking to be shouty about your P-car purchase, check out this Macan S for sale painted in a vibrant Paint to Sample hue of Gulf Orange.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2016 Porsche Macan S on Cars.com

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1989 Porsche 944 Turbo with 37,000 Miles

Kicking and screaming, enthusiasts are watching super heros from the 1980s slowly (or not so slowly, depending on the model) move firmly out of affordable price ranges. The last bastion of performance to rise is one of the best available, proving that the market doesn’t always recognize what theoretically should be the best cars. 944 Turbos, just as they did when new, have been rapidly accelerating in value and the top of the heap for road models are the ’88 Turbo S and the S-spec ’89 Turbos (properly, without S – more later). In my time writing for GCFSB, I’ve watched nice examples move from mid-teens to firmly into the 20K range. But Hagerty currently values them even higher, with a sharp spike in 2015. 2016 forecasts have the market cooling slightly, but it’s still at record highs for several models. The current top value on a 1989, at least according to Hagerty, is $36,400. Today’s car is priced at $39,000. Is it better than perfect?

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1989 Porsche 944 Turbo on eBay

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